Chapter 3

"Alessia, I'm sorry for this. Once you're in there, protect yourself at all costs. Don't be a hero. I believe you'll be alright."

"When you come back, I'll make you my wife. I promise I won't fail you for the rest of my life."

I simply let out a cold laugh and turned to meet his gaze.

Half a month ago, those same beautiful eyes had looked at me with utmost sincerity as he said:

"After this truce is settled, I'll take you away from all this. We'll leave the family, live a quiet life together."

Under the neon glow of the city, we had shared a passionate kiss. I truly loved him to my very core.

But in just two weeks, Isabella had effortlessly stolen his heart.

My years as his partner in violence, facing death together, couldn't compare to Isabella's feigned vulnerability and her soft touch on his arm once.

She had whispered his name, and just like that, Marco was bewitched.

I looked at him and spoke coldly.

"Marco, don't bother with the proposal."

"I no longer serve you."

With that, I walked toward the Volkov Bratva's waiting phalanx.

Both sides were a wall of tense muscle and dark suits, weapons concealed but ready.

I walked to the midpoint, where the Bratva enforcers escorting Isabella also stood.

Isabella sobbed, stumbling into Marco's arms:

"Marco, I was so scared. Thank God you came for me."

But Marco’s eyes were on me as he called out my name:

"Alessia, don't say things you don't mean. You know I love you."

"It's just that this time, I truly had no other choice."

I offered no response as the Bratva’s men closed around my arms.

The exchange was done, and I returned to the cold hell of my past life.

The familiar scent of expensive cologne and blood hit me, making my stomach clench.

Unlike last time, when I was drugged and dragged here unconscious, I now had some leverage.

"Harm me, and the value of your truce plummets. If I die, you get nothing but war."

Seeing Marco’s final, desperate look, the Bratva captain showed a hint of caution.

After all, killing an asset from a major family before the ink was dry was bad for business.

But power was truly useful.

Even without physical marks, they could still break me.

For two days and nights, they denied me sleep.

Whenever my head nodded, a guard would slam a baton against the steel door.

They wouldn't let me sit or lie down, forcing me into a stress position.

I was on the verge of splintering, but I was still thankful my deepest fear had not yet come.

Two days later, Luca's tactical team was in position, and my father had wired the five million dollar security payment.

It was the same coded transmission, but Luca's tone had shifted.

"Alessia, hold on a little longer, we're making our move."

"The Don and your mother struggled to secure this payment for you. You can't forget their sacrifice; they just want you and Isabella to finally be sisters."

"Isabella hasn't eaten in days, she's so sick with worry. She wakes up from nightmares screaming your name. We all care about you. No grudge is worth holding onto. Don't hate her anymore, alright?"

I choked down the bile rising in my throat and replied:

"I understand."

Luca seemed to let out a breath he'd been holding.

"You were always the smart one, since we were kids. We all know that."

As the call ended, the Bratva captain narrowed his eyes, his gaze sliding over me.

That familiar, predatory look sent a chill of pure instinct down my spine.